Dear aspiring executive

Often, we look to others for inspiration for what is possible. They help paint a picture for something good and beautiful.

I love Russell Crow’s character, Terry Thorne, in Proof of Life, where he is an expert negotiator in kidnapping and ransom cases. 

There is one particular scene where Thorne walks in on the corrupt local hostage negotiator who has convinced the hostage’s wife to pay a good faith payment. Thorne immediately stops the transaction and assumes the lead in further negotiation. 

Thorne demonstrates such skill and expertise in his craft. He is the best in class at what he does. 

This is one of my pictures of inspiration. 

And sometimes, we look around us and can’t find the inspiration we need.

Have you ever found yourself aspiring for a senior leadership role, but not identifying with the person who currently occupies that role?

What do you do when you don’t see yourself reflected back to you when you look at the leaders around you? When you don’t see someone ahead of you who inspires you?

Photo by Min An

How can you find inspiration to say “yes” to the role that others think you are qualified for, but you doubt yourself because who you are seems so different to who has gone before you?

I’ll give you a hint: turn inward.

1. Examine your beliefs. 

What do you believe about leadership? What do you believe your team needs? What do you believe is in the best interest of the organization? 

Whether or not you have consciously articulated beliefs about work, you have them. 

Surfacing them is a key component to unlocking what makes you unique as a leader. 

Your beliefs will likely be quite different from those who went before you, but they are valuable nevertheless. What are your spikey points of view? Start to own them and start saying them out loud.

2. Pay attention to what energizes you.

There is a good chance that you love influencing people, processes, and outcomes, even if it scares you a little. What other aspects of that senior position excite you? Maybe you like advising decision-makers. Or maybe you want to BE the decision-maker. Maybe you know you can increase your team’s performance because you trust them and trust that they will bring their best under your leadership. 

3. Time to update your self-concept. 

How do others view you? Sometimes we have an outdated self-concept. We see ourselves as someone with a solid work ethic who strives for excellence, but a leader? Yet if you were to ask those around you, they see your leadership qualities play out every day. 

4. Trust yourself.

You know you do good work. You know you excel at building relationships and working with and through others. You even have a vision for the role you aspire to. 

You can stop looking around for someone else to step into leadership, because YOU are it. You are ready. Time to start trusting yourself.

Love,

Audrey